Home Drug Guide Soybean Oil

Drug Guide

Generic Name

Soybean Oil

Brand Names Intralipid 10%, Intralipid 20%, Soyacal 10%, Travamulsion 10%, Travamulsion 20%, Soyacal 20%, Liposyn III 10%, Liposyn III 20%, Nutrilipid 10%, Nutrilipid 20%, Intralipid 30%, Liposyn III 30%

Classification

Therapeutic: Nutritional Supplement, Parenteral Nutrition

Pharmacological: Lipid Emulsion

FDA Approved Indications

  • Provision of essential fatty acids and calories in parenteral nutrition for patients unable to obtain adequate nutrition orally or enterally.

Mechanism of Action

Provides a source of calories and essential fatty acids, supporting cellular function and growth by supplying triglycerides that are metabolized to produce energy.

Dosage and Administration

Adult: Typically 10-30% lipid emulsions administered via IV in doses determined by patient needs, usually 1-2 g/kg/day of lipids.

Pediatric: Dosing varies; typically 0.5-3 g/kg/day depending on age and nutritional requirements.

Geriatric: Adjust doses based on nutritional status and weight; monitor for lipid tolerance.

Renal Impairment: Use with caution; monitor triglycerides and nutritional status.

Hepatic Impairment: Use cautiously; hepatic dysfunction may affect lipid metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Administered intravenously, bypassing absorption processes.

Distribution: Distributed throughout body tissues, incorporated into cell membranes.

Metabolism: Metabolized primarily in the liver.

Excretion: Excreted mainly via metabolic pathways; triglycerides are broken down and fatty acids utilized or stored.

Half Life: Approximately 2-3 days, varies with metabolic rate and lipid clearance.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to soybean oil or other components of the emulsion.
  • Acute liver disease.
  • Severe hyperlipidemia.

Precautions

  • Monitor triglyceride levels, especially in patients with impaired lipid metabolism.
  • Use cautiously in patients with allergy to soy or eggs.

Adverse Reactions - Common

  • Elevated triglycerides (Common)
  • Fever, chills during infusion (Common)

Adverse Reactions - Serious

  • Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis (Uncommon)
  • Fat overload syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hepatomegaly, fever, ARDS) (Rare)

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • May interact with medications affecting lipid metabolism (e.g., orlistat).

Drug-Food Interactions

  • Limited interaction data.

Drug-Herb Interactions

  • Limited data.

Nursing Implications

Assessment: Monitor triglyceride levels, liver function tests, and for allergic reactions.

Diagnoses:

  • Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements.
  • Risk for fat overload syndrome.

Implementation: Administer via infusion pump, monitor for adverse reactions, check lipid levels regularly, and ensure proper infusion techniques.

Evaluation: Maintain appropriate nutritional status, absence of adverse reactions, and normal lipid levels.

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Report any allergic reactions or unusual symptoms.
  • Explain that it's administered intravenously in a healthcare setting.
  • Emphasize importance of monitoring during therapy.

Special Considerations

Black Box Warnings:

  • None explicitly for soybean oil emulsions, but caution in hypersensitive individuals.

Genetic Factors: Possible allergy in individuals with soy or egg allergy.

Lab Test Interference: May affect lipid panels; consider timing of blood tests.

Overdose Management

Signs/Symptoms: Lipid overload, hypertriglyceridemia, shortness of breath, fever, hepatomegaly.

Treatment: Discontinue infusion, monitor triglycerides, supportive care as needed.

Storage and Handling

Storage: Store at room temperature, protected from light.

Stability: Stable until expiration date when stored properly.

🛡️ 5 Critical Medication Safety Tips for Nurses

1

Triple-Check High-Risk Medications

Always have another nurse verify insulin, heparin, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs. These "high-alert" medications cause the most serious errors. Check concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings twice.

2

Know Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Drugs

Common mix-ups: hydromorphone/morphine, Celebrex/Celexa, Zyprexa/Zyrtec. Always use BOTH generic and brand names, read labels twice, and use barcode scanning when available. One wrong letter can be fatal.

3

Assess Before AND After Giving Meds

Check vitals before cardiac meds, pain levels before analgesics, and blood glucose before insulin. Always reassess within 30 minutes to evaluate effectiveness and watch for adverse reactions.

4

Watch for Drug Interactions

Common dangerous combinations: warfarin + aspirin (bleeding), ACE inhibitors + potassium (hyperkalemia), digoxin + diuretics (toxicity). Always check drug interactions before administering new medications.

5

Educate Your Patients

Teach patients medication names, purposes, major side effects, and what to report. Informed patients catch errors and improve compliance. Always encourage questions - an educated patient is a safer patient.

⚡ Remember: When in doubt, don't give it out! It's always safer to double-check than regret later.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This drug guide is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for clinical use. Always consult current prescribing information, healthcare providers, and institutional protocols before administering any medication. Do not use this information for patient care decisions.